Influencing factors and gender differences of life satisfaction in patients with chronic kidney disease: A national cross-sectional study in China

Background Chronic kidney disease is a global health issue that always leads to low life satisfaction. Our study aimed to investigate factors affecting life satisfaction in patients with chronic kidney disease and to examine any gender differences, thereby providing a theoretical basis for enhancing life satisfaction among middle-aged and elderly patients with chronic kidney disease. Methods Data for this study were collected from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, including 1,422 patients with chronic kidney disease. Based on the health ecology model, 22 potential influencing factors were identified at five levels. The chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression model were utilized to analyze the influencing factors of life satisfaction in chronic kidney disease patients and gender differences. Results Age, gender, self-rated health, depressive symptoms, marital satisfaction, children's satisfaction, activities of daily living, and pension significantly influenced life satisfaction in chronic kidney disease patients ( P  < 0.05). The impact of drinking on life satisfaction in patients with chronic kidney disease showed significant gender differences. Interestingly, male patients who consumed alcohol were more likely to report high life satisfaction, while male patients who smoked cigarettes were more likely to show low life satisfaction; however, this association was not found in female patients. Conclusions This study reveals that a combination of factors affects life satisfaction in patients with chronic kidney disease. Therefore, targeted prevention and intervention strategies should be carried out, with a specific focus on females, individuals with poor self-rated health, and those experiencing depressive symptoms from a multidimensional perspective.